Abu Dhabi Sets AED Monthly Salary Target for Skilled Workers' 10-Year Golden Visa

Abu Dhabi Sets AED Monthly Salary Target for Skilled Workers' 10-Year Golden Visa

  • The Abu Dhabi Residents Office published the exact salary threshold foreign skilled professionals must meet to qualify for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa
  • Applicants must also meet specific educational, occupational, and licensing requirements set by UAE authorities
  • The Golden Visa offers holders long-term residency benefits including family sponsorship and extended travel freedom
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President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Images: Chris Jackson / Staff/Getty
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Abu Dhabi has set out exactly what it takes for foreign skilled professionals to qualify for its coveted 10-year UAE Golden Visa, and the salary bar is set high.

The Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO) published the eligibility criteria, confirming that employed foreign professionals must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000 to qualify under the skilled worker category. That works out to roughly R145,000 or $8,170 per month.

What applicants need to qualify

Meeting the salary benchmark alone is not enough. The AED 30,000 must come through as a basic salary, verified by an official employer salary certificate and supported by six months of UAE bank statements showing consistent transfers.

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Beyond the pay requirement, applicants must satisfy three additional conditions. Their job title must fall under either Level 1 (Managers and Business Executives) or Level 2 (Professionals in Sciences, Engineering, Health, Education, IT, Law, Business, and Culture) as classified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. They must also hold at least a Bachelor's degree that has been attested and recognised by the UAE Ministry of Education. Professionals in regulated fields such as medicine, pharmacy, and teaching must present a valid practising licence issued by the relevant UAE authority.

What the 10-year golden visa offers

For those who qualify, the rewards are significant. The visa grants a decade of self-sponsored residency that can be renewed as long as the holder continues to meet the requirements, removing the traditional dependency on an employer or national sponsor.

Holders can sponsor their spouse, children of any age, and domestic workers. The visa also removes the standard rule that cancels UAE residency if a person spends more than six consecutive months outside the country, giving holders far greater flexibility to travel or return home without risking their status.

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Nerissa Naidoo (Human Interest Editor) Nerissa Naidoo is a journalist and editor with seven years of publishing experience, specialising in human-interest features, societal developments, and breaking crime updates for Briefly News. Having worked as a copy editor and content accuracy specialist for international publications like National Today and Entail.ai, Nerissa applies rigorous fact-checking and ethical standards to sensitive news stories, including police updates, community affairs, and public safety reporting.  Contact: nerissa.naidoo@briefly.co.za